Kalanchoe plant named ‘Snowdon’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kalanchoe  plant named ‘Snowdon’, characterized by its large and numerous white-colored flowers; upright, uniform and vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Snowdon’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofKalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Snowdon’.

The new Kalanchoe is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of thebreeding program was to create new freely-branching and freely-floweringKalanchoe cultivars with attractive foliage and flower coloration.

The new Kalanchoe originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in June, 1999 of the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Simone,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,238, as the female, or seed, parentwith the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Hillary, disclosed in U.S.Plant Pat. No. 11,798, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivarSnowdon was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledenvironment in De Lier, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe by terminal vegetativecuttings in De Lier, The Netherlands, since 2001 has shown that theunique features of this new Kalanchoe are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Snowdon has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Snowdon’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Snowdon’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Large and numerous white-colored flowers.    -   2. Upright, uniform and vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, the cultivar Simone. In side-by-side comparisons conducted bythe Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands, plants of the new Kalanchoediffered from plants of the cultivar Simone in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were more freely branching than        plants of the cultivar Simone.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had flatter leaves than plants of        the cultivar Simone.    -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had better postproduction        longevity than plants of the cultivar Simone.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the maleparent, the cultivar Hillary. In side-by-side comparisons conducted bythe Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands, plants of the new Kalanchoediffered from plants of the cultivar Hillary in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were more freely branching than        plants of the cultivar Hillary.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had flatter leaves than plants of        the cultivar Hillary.    -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had larger flowers than plants of        the cultivar Hillary.    -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had better postproduction        longevity than plants of the cultivar Hillary.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can also be compared to plants of theKalanchoe cultivar White Cora, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,929.In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in De Lier, TheNetherlands, plants of the new Kalanchoe differed from plants of thecultivar White Cora in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were larger and more vigorous        than plants of the cultivar White Cora.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had larger leaves than plants of        the cultivar White Cora.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Kalanchoe, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Kalanchoe. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Snowdon’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made of The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for theaforementioned photograph and for the description were grown during theautumn in De Lier, The Netherlands, in a glass-covered greenhouse.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C.to 20° C.; night temperatures averaged 18° C.; and light levels rangedfrom 10,000 to 55,000 lux. Unrooted cuttings were directly stuck in12.5-cm containers and received long day/short night conditions (morethan 14 hours of light) for about three weeks; plants then receivedphotoinductive short day/long night conditions (minimum 14 hoursdarkness) until flowering. Plants were about 14 weeks old from anunrooted cutting when the photograph and the description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Snowdon.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar            Simone, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,238.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar            Hillary, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,798.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 14 days at 21° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 16 days at 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About 15 days at            21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About 18 days at            21° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; grayish white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Upright, uniform and vigorous growth habit. Very            freely flowering with numerous compound cymes. Inverted            triangle with rounded crown. Appropriate for 10 to 15-cm            containers.        -   Crop time.—About 13 to 16 weeks; 3 to 4 weeks under long            day/short night conditions followed by 10 to 12 weeks of            short day/long night conditions.        -   Plant height at flowering.—About 18 cm.        -   Plant diameter at flowering.—About 21 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching; typically eight to ten            lateral branches develop per plant. Pinching (removal of            terminal apex) is not required but will enhance lateral            branch development.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 10 cm to 14 cm.            Diameter: About 2 mm to 5 mm. Internode length: About 2 cm            to 3 cm. Aspect: Erect. Strength: Moderately strong.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 138A.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple;            generally symmetrical. Quantity per plant: About 8 to 13            mature leaves and 14 to 22 generative leaves. Length: About            12 cm. Width: About 9 cm. Shape: Ovate to elliptic. Apex:            Obtuse. Base: Acute. Margin: Crenate. Texture: Leathery,            glabrous and succulent. Color: Developing and fully expanded            leaves, upper surface: 135A; venation, 135A. Developing and            fully expanded leaves, lower surface: 137A; venation, 137A.            Petiole length: About 1.5 cm. Petiole diameter: About 4 mm            to 7 mm. Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces: 135A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single flowers arranged in compound            dichasial cymes that arise from leaf axials. Freely            flowering; more then 25 open flowers pet lateral branch and            more than 150 open flowers per plant. Flowering continuously            for at least eight weeks. Flowers persistent. Flowers not            fragrant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe            initiate and develop flowers under short day/long night            conditions or during the late autumn/winter/early spring.            Flower initiation and development can also be induced under            artificial short day/long night conditions (at least 14            hours of darkness).        -   Time to flower.—Under short day/long night photoinductive            conditions, about ten to twelve weeks are required. Actual            time to flower is primarily dependent upon temperature and            light intensity.        -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production            longevity; plants maintain good foliage and flower substance            for about 70 days under interior environmental conditions.            Individual flowers last about 25 days on the plant.        -   Flower diameter.—About 1.8 cm.        -   Flower height.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Shape: Initially oblong, becoming tubular ovoid            with development. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 2 mm.            Color: 4C to 4D.        -   Petals.—Quantity: Four fused at base. Length: About 8 mm.            Width: About 7 mm. Aspect: Flat to slightly upright. Shape:            Ovate. Apex: Obtuse to acute. Margin: Entire. Texture:            Glabrous, smooth. Color: When opening, upper surface: 4B.            When opening, lower surface: 4C. Fully opened, upper and            lower surfaces: 155D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity: Four fused at base. Length: About 8 mm.            Width: About 2 mm. Aspect: Erect. Shape: Oblong. Apex:            Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture: Glabrous,            smooth. Color, immature, upper and lower surfaces: 141D.            Color, mature, upper and lower surfaces: 141C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4 mm to 7 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Aspect: Erect. Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: 141A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Eight.            Anther shape: Elliptic; flat. Anther size: About 0.3 mm.            Anther color: Close to 150D. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen            color: Close to 12A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: Four.            Style length: About 1 mm. Style color: 138D. Stigma shape:            Flat, rounded. Stigma color: 8D. Ovary color: 138D.        -   Seed.—Length: About 0.1 mm. Diameter: About 0.05 mm. Color:            Close to 166C.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Kalanchoes.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been    observed to tolerate low temperatures of 16° C. and high    temperatures of 35° C.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe perform have been    observed to perform well in the garden and are tolerant to rain and    wind.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named ‘Snowdon’, asillustrated and described.